Spain Flashcards
What country has the largest planted acreage of vines?
Spain
What is Spain’s best known red grape?
Tempranillo
In Spain, wines WITH geographical indication are grouped into 3 overarching classifications with 3 levels nested within the second:
IGP Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)
DOP (VCIG, DO, DOCa)
Vinos de Pagos
What are the only 2 wine regions in Spain with the DOCa classification?
Which was the first?
Rioja and Priorat
Rioja was the first
What are the soils of Rías Baixas DO?
Granite
Alluvial
Slate
What is the white grape of Rías Baixas DO?
Albarino
What is the river that runs through Rioja?
The Ebro River
What are the 2 mountain ranges that protect Rioja DOCa?
Pyrenées Mountains (they divide France and Spain in the northeast) Cantabrian Mountains (to the northwest)
What are Rioja DOCa’s 3 subregions?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Oriental (formerly known as Rioja Baja)
What is the main white grape in Rioja?
Viura
What are the main red grapes in Rioja?
Tempranillo, Garnacha
What are the 3 aging levels in Rioja DOCa?
Crianza
Reserva
Gran Reserva
What type of oak is traditionally used to age Rioja DOCa?
What different type of oak is being used more of today?
Traditional = American oak Modern = French oak
What are the aging requirements for Rioja Crianza?
Total of 2 years of aging prior to release, a mix of time of oak and aging in the bottle.
What are the aging requirements for Rioja Reserva?
Total of 3 years, 1 year of which must be in oak.
What are the aging requirements for Rioja Gran Reserva?
Total of at least 5 years, of which at least 2 years must be in oak and a minimum of 2 years in the bottle.
How often is Rioja Gran Reserva made?
It’s made only the best vintages, so around 4-5 times a decade
Tempranillo is known as another name in Ribera del Duero. What is it called?
Tinto Fino
What styles of wine does Ribera del Duero make: white, red, rosé, or a combination of the three?
Mostly red and a little rosé, and in 2019 Ribera del Duero DO changed its regulations to include white wine styles.
What is the elevation of Ribera del Duero?
How does it get that elevation?
2500 ft asl (above sea level)
Ribera del Duero is situated on the Meseta, that high plateau in the center of Spain
What is the river that runs through Ribera del Duero?
The Duero River
What are the 2 most important DOs in the Duero River Valley besides Ribera del Duero DO?
Toro DO
Rueda DO
Quick details on Toro DO:
climate
grape
style of wine
Continental climate, super hot summers
Tempranillo only
Full bodied, rich, powerful reds
What is the local name for Tempranillo in Toro DO?
Tinto de Toro